Chick-fil-A
| File:Chick-fil-A logo.svg Logo used since 2020 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast food restaurant |
| Founded | 1 January 1946 (as Dwarf Grill) in Hapeville, Georgia, United States |
| Founder | S. Truett Cathy |
| Headquarters | College Park, Georgia , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, planned expansion to Singapore |
Key people | Dan T. Cathy (Executive Chairman) |
| Products | Chicken sandwiches, breakfast, lunch, dinner, catering services, sauces and salad dressings (retail) |
| Website | www |
Chick-fil-A, Inc. () stands as a prominent American fast food enterprise, recognized as the leading chain focused on chicken sandwiches. Its headquarters are situated in College Park, Georgia, and the company manages over 3,300 outlets spanning 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Additionally, Chick-fil-A maintains a presence in Canada and the United Kingdom, with plans to broaden its footprint into the UK and Singapore by late 2025. The menu features offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, complemented by catering services. The hallmark item is the "original chicken sandwich," which consists of a breaded, deep-fried boneless chicken breast served on a toasted bun with dill pickles, and optional additions like lettuce, tomato, and cheese.
Established by S. Truett Cathy (1921–2014), a committed Southern Baptist, the company’s principles are deeply influenced by his Christian faith. Reflecting Sunday Sabbatarian beliefs, Chick-fil-A locations remain closed on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The firm’s conservative viewpoint regarding same-sex marriage generated public debate; however, since 2019, it has moderated its stance. Despite facing controversies and boycott efforts, Chick-fil-A was named America’s favorite fast food chain for the eighth year running in 2022 and continues to lead the sector with the highest sales per store nationwide.
History
The origins of Chick-fil-A can be traced back to the Dwarf Grill (now known as the Dwarf House), which founder S. Truett Cathy opened in 1946 in Hapeville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Positioned near the Ford Motor Company Atlanta Assembly Plant, this initial location underwent renovations and reopened in 2022.
In 1961, Cathy came upon a pressure fryer that enabled chicken sandwiches to be prepared as swiftly as hamburgers. This discovery led to registering the Chick-fil-A, Inc. name. The company’s slogan—"We Didn't Invent the Chicken, Just the Chicken Sandwich"—underscores its signature offering. Although Chick-fil-A was the first national brand to center its menu around a fast-served fried chicken sandwich, Cathy's assertion of inventing it is not accurate.
Between 1964 and 1967, over fifty establishments licensed the sandwich recipe, including Waffle House and concession stands at Houston’s Astrodome. The inaugural dedicated Chick-fil-A restaurant debuted in 1967 within Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall food court.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, the brand expanded primarily through suburban mall food courts. A pivotal moment came on April 16, 1986, when its first standalone outlet opened on North Druid Hills Road in Atlanta, marking a strategic shift toward freestanding restaurants mainly located in Southern suburban areas.
Since 1997, Chick-fil-A has been a sponsor of the Peach Bowl, an annual college football game held in Atlanta, while also supporting athletics within both the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference.
By 2008, Chick-fil-A had removed trans fats from its menu offerings. In October 2015, it unveiled its largest restaurant—a three-story facility covering 5,000 square feet—in Manhattan.
Departing from its usual practice of Sunday closures, Chick-fil-A opened twice on Sundays: once in December 2017 to assist travelers during a power outage at Atlanta airport and again in January 2019 at a Mobile, Alabama franchise to honor a special birthday request.
February 2023 saw Chick-fil-A introduce its first plant-based option—a breaded cauliflower sandwich—marking its venture into meat alternatives.
In May 2023, without public comment, Chick-fil-A permanently closed its original Greenbriar Mall location.
Business model
Chick-fil-A's approach revolves around a simplified menu primarily featuring chicken sandwiches, paired with a strong focus on outstanding customer service. The capital "A" in its name represents "grade A top quality" chicken. This dedication to customer experience has been a driving force behind its expansion across the United States and the cultivation of a loyal customer base.
The company owns and operates its own restaurants, while franchisees are required to make an initial investment of $10,000 and undergo a rigorous selection process along with comprehensive training.
In 2022, Chick-fil-A achieved an impressive average sales figure of $6.71 million per restaurant, despite being open only six days weekly—this was the highest average among fast-food chains in the U.S., with Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers ranking second at $5.44 million per location.
By 2019, Chick-fil-A's U.S. sales reached $11.3 billion, positioning it third in the market behind McDonald's, which reported $40.4 billion in sales.
To challenge Chick-fil-A's dominance, competitors such as Popeyes introduced fried chicken sandwiches in 2019, igniting what became known as the Chicken Sandwich Wars.
Retail sale of sauces
Starting in spring 2020, Chick-fil-A began offering two of its signature dipping sauces in select supermarkets across Florida, with proceeds supporting a scholarship program for employees at store level. After a successful pilot phase, the sauces were made available nationwide in 2021, followed by the introduction of two more sauce varieties in 2023.
In October 2022, Chick-fil-A initiated a test for retail distribution of its salad dressings in the Cincinnati region and parts of Tennessee, which expanded to a nationwide rollout by spring 2023.
Looking ahead to January 2025, Chick-fil-A revealed plans to centralize lemonade production at an automated facility in California capable of handling 30 to 35 truckloads of lemons daily, aiming to boost operational efficiency.
Financial performance
In 2024, Chick-fil-A reported systemwide sales totaling $22 billion, placing it among the top three restaurant chains in the U.S. by revenue, alongside McDonald's ($53.5 billion) and Starbucks ($30.4 billion). This was accomplished with 3,109 locations nationwide compared to McDonald's 13,559 U.S.-based outlets. Chick-fil-A's average sales per unit stood at $7.5 million, the highest among leading fast-food brands in the country.
Corporate culture
The Southern Baptist beliefs of founder S. Truett Cathy have deeply shaped Chick-fil-A's corporate ethos. The company's mission statement declares its purpose as "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us" and to make a positive difference for everyone who engages with the brand. Cathy was opposed to taking the company public due to both religious convictions and personal considerations.
In 2012, a company representative highlighted that Chick-fil-A’s culture centers on treating every individual with honor, dignity, and respect—irrespective of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Sunday closing
Honoring founder Truett Cathy's Christian Sabbatarian beliefs, all Chick-fil-A locations remain closed on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Cathy explained that closing on Sunday was intended as a way to honor God and focus on priorities beyond business.
During an interview on ABC News’ Nightline, Dan T. Cathy shared that Truett decided on Sunday closures because he was worn out by week’s end and Sunday was not typically a busy business day. This policy has been maintained ever since based on the conviction that employees also benefit from having one day off each week.
Importantly, even Chick-fil-A outlets located within sports stadiums close on Sundays despite many games being scheduled then—demonstrating the company’s commitment to its founding principle over potential revenue gains.
Drive-through congestion
The widespread popularity of Chick-fil-A's drive-through service across the United States has resulted in traffic jams, involvement from law enforcement, and grievances from adjacent businesses in more than 20 states. Extended queues have caused vehicle backups, obstructing emergency responders and public transportation, thereby elevating the chances of accidents and pedestrian injuries.
By the year 2025, drive-through transactions represented as much as 60% of the company’s overall income.
Lenten traditions
Chick-fil-A historically offered fish sandwiches during Lent to respect the Christian practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays. Nonetheless, this menu item is no longer available.
Antibiotic-free chicken commitment
In February 2014, Chick-fil-A pledged to serve chicken raised without antibiotics nationwide within a five-year timeframe, becoming the pioneer fast-food chain to make such a commitment. This goal was achieved by May 2019. Subsequently, to ensure a consistent supply of premium chicken, the company announced a policy change from No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) to No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine (NAIHM) effective spring 2024. In March 2024, Chick-fil-A revealed it would abandon its previous exclusive use of "antibiotic-free" chicken, which generated considerable criticism.
Elimination of additives
In 2011, food activist Vani Hari exposed that Chick-fil-A sandwiches contained close to 100 ingredients, including peanut oil preserved with tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a chemical derived from butane. By October 2012, Chick-fil-A executives met with Hari at their corporate headquarters. By December 2013, the company declared it would remove high-fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring agents and began trials with a new peanut oil formulation. Similar to many corporations, Chick-fil-A generally does not announce such ingredient modifications unless prompted by media scrutiny.
Transition to cage-free eggs
In 2016, Chick-fil-A committed to sourcing only cage-free eggs by 2026. However, in 2025, the company rescinded this promise, citing challenges within the industry and outbreaks of avian influenza as obstacles.
Canada
Chick-fil-A's initial international venture launched in September 1994 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton but shuttered within a few years due to underperformance. The brand introduced a location at Calgary International Airport in May 2014; this outlet closed in 2019.
In September 2019, Chick-fil-A opened its first Toronto restaurant at Yonge and Bloor amid protests concerning animal welfare and the company’s stance on LGBTQ issues. Despite opposition, Chick-fil-A pursued expansion plans by opening a second Toronto site at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in January 2020 and announcing twelve additional locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area over five years.
Further growth occurred in Ontario with standalone drive-through establishments debuting in Kitchener (August 2021) and Windsor (October 2021). In 2024, Chick-fil-A re-entered Alberta with new outlets at West Edmonton Mall and on Macleod Trail in Calgary.
Early in 2025, the Cambridge, Ontario location experienced hundreds of customers queuing for hours before opening despite cold weather conditions, demonstrating robust consumer interest.
South Africa
Chick-fil-A made its initial foray beyond North America in August 1996 by opening a restaurant in Durban, South Africa. DanCor Investments Pty Ltd., a family-owned enterprise based in South Africa, was granted exclusive rights to establish up to 50 outlets across southern Africa. Danie van den Heever, founder of DanCor, assumed the role of CEO for Chick-fil-A Southern Africa. A subsequent store launched in Johannesburg in November 1997. Both establishments failed to achieve profitability and were shuttered by 2001.
United Kingdom
In the spring of 2018, Chick-fil-A operated a temporary pop-up location in Edinburgh. The brand re-entered the European market on October 10, 2019, with a new outlet at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading, Berkshire. However, this location ceased operations in March 2020 after The Oracle opted not to renew the lease amid protests concerning the company’s stance on LGBTQ issues.
Earlier, in February 2019, Chick-fil-A launched a one-year pilot store in Aviemore, Scotland, which closed in January 2020 following local demonstrations related to the chain’s previous charitable contributions. The company emphasized that the limited duration was part of the original plan.
Addressing the backlash, Chick-fil-A appointed its inaugural diversity leader in 2020 and redirected its philanthropic efforts toward education and hunger alleviation initiatives rather than organizations opposing same-sex marriage. By September 2023, the company revealed plans to invest over $100 million to establish five restaurants across the UK by early 2025, alongside commitments to local charitable giving and surplus food redistribution programs.
The first permanent UK restaurant opened in Lisburn, Northern Ireland in January 2025. This was followed by a second location in Templepatrick through a collaboration with Welcome Break, a division of Applegreen. A third outlet commenced operations in Leeds, West Yorkshire by October 2025.
Puerto Rico
Chick-fil-A inaugurated its first establishment in Puerto Rico in 2022 and expanded to seven locations by 2024. The company aims to grow to as many as 25 restaurants on the island by 2030. The menu prominently features coffee that is entirely sourced and roasted locally.
Expansion to Asia and Europe
In March 2023, CEO Andrew Cathy announced intentions to introduce Chick-fil-A restaurants across Asia and Europe by 2026, targeting entry into five international markets by 2030. The selection criteria focus on countries with stable economies, high population densities, and robust demand for chicken products.
Singapore
Chick-fil-A debuted its presence in Asia with a three-day pop-up event at Esplanade Mall during June 2024. On October 17, 2024, it declared plans for an official opening in Singapore scheduled for late 2025, backed by an investment of US$75 million spread over ten years.
Planned locations
The company intends to launch new outlets in both the UK and Singapore toward the end of 2025.
Advertising
The hallmark advertising slogan "Eat Mor Chikin," created by The Richards Group in 1995, features Holstein dairy cows holding signs that encourage customers to "Eat Mor Chikin." Although briefly suspended during the mad cow disease scare of 2004, this campaign quickly resumed. These bovine characters replaced the earlier mascot known as Doodles—a cartoon chicken incorporated into the logo.
Chick-fil-A actively safeguards its intellectual property by issuing cease and desist notices against unauthorized uses of "eat more" phrases to avoid brand dilution. A notable instance occurred in 2011 when it challenged Vermont artist Bo Muller-Moore’s "Eat More Kale" T-shirts, provoking criticism over alleged corporate intimidation. With public backing including from Vermont's governor, Muller-Moore ultimately obtained a trademark for "Eat More Kale" in 2014.
After collaborating with The Richards Group for 22 years, Chick-fil-A transitioned to McCann New York as its advertising agency in 2016. Subsequent campaigns continued showcasing the cows alongside historical figures under the tagline "Chicken for Breakfast. It's not as crazy as you think."
Sponsored Events
- Chick-fil-A Classic
- The Chick-fil-A Classic is a high school basketball competition held in Columbia, South Carolina, showcasing top-ranked teams from across the nation. The tournament is jointly supported by the Greater Columbia Educational Advancement Foundation (GCEAF), which awards scholarships to local high school graduates.
- Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
- Since 2014, the annual college football postseason game in Atlanta, Georgia has been known as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
- Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
- Hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game marks the start of the college football season and features two highly ranked teams, one of which is typically from the Southeastern Conference. The event expanded to include multiple games during 2012 and 2014. In July 2023, Georgia-based insurer Aflac took over as the title sponsor.
Same-Sex Marriage
Through the WinShape Foundation, Chick-fil-A has contributed over $5 million to organizations opposing same-sex marriage. This funding led to protests and attempts by certain universities to ban the restaurant from their campuses. In 2012, COO Dan T. Cathy publicly expressed opposition to same-sex marriage, drawing criticism from political figures such as Boston’s mayor and a Chicago alderman who sought to prevent franchise growth in their cities. These proposed restrictions encountered legal challenges centered on civil rights.
Amid this controversy, The Jim Henson Company discontinued its licensing agreement for children’s meal toys with Chick-fil-A. The company stopped distributing these toys citing safety reasons unrelated to the controversy and issued a statement highlighting its commitment to food service and hospitality while leaving social policy debates to governmental authorities.
Following this, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee launched a Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, which attracted unprecedented customer turnout. Subsequently, the Federal Aviation Administration examined the exclusion of Chick-fil-A from certain airport concessions due to anti-discrimination policies.
By 2018, Chick-fil-A reportedly maintained donations to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization opposing gay marriage. However, in November 2019, company president Tim Tassopoulos announced a cessation of contributions to both The Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, reflecting shifts in charitable strategies amid global expansion and increasing LGBTQ advocacy.
Hapeville Dwarf House
Truett Cathy established his inaugural restaurant in 1946 called The Dwarf Grill—later renamed Dwarf House—in Hapeville, Georgia. It was here that he created the pressure-cooked chicken breast sandwich that inspired Chick-fil-A’s signature item. The original Dwarf Grill features a notably small front door alongside standard-sized entrances.
Operating 24 hours a day for six days each week (closed Sundays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas), this Hapeville location offers a more extensive dine-in menu compared to other Dwarf House outlets and includes an animated display featuring seven dwarfs. The restaurant is located opposite the former Ford Motor Company Atlanta Assembly plant.
Dwarf House
Founded in 1986, these full-service establishments provide comprehensive menus with options for table service, walk-up counters, and drive-thru ordering. Of the initial eleven Chick-fil-A Dwarf House restaurants, five remain active within the Atlanta metropolitan area, including sites in Duluth, Riverdale, Jonesboro, Forest Park, and Fayetteville.
Truett's Grill
The inaugural Truett's Grill debuted in 1996 in Morrow, Georgia, with subsequent openings in McDonough (2003) and Griffin (2006). These independently operated establishments offer classic sit-down dining experiences featuring expanded menus within a diner-inspired atmosphere. In 2017, Chick-fil-A transitioned several Dwarf House venues into Truett's Grill locations as part of its deliberate brand development strategy.
Truett's Chick-fil-A
Named in tribute to founder S. Truett Cathy, Truett's Chick-fil-A showcases décor adorned with family photographs and some of his cherished sayings. This concept delivers breakfast, lunch, and dinner through drive-thru, counter service, and traditional seating. Currently, there are four outlets located in Newnan, Rome, Stockbridge, and Woodstock, Georgia.
Truett's Luau
Drawing inspiration from Truett Cathy's trip to Hawaii, Truett's Luau was launched in Fayetteville, Georgia, in 2013 when he was 92 years old. The menu combines Hawaiian island dishes with Southern U.S. influences and offers customers the choice of sit-down dining, counter service, or drive-thru.
Senior leadership
Since its inception in 1946, the Cathy family has maintained leadership over Chick-fil-A; as of 2025, the company is under the stewardship of the third generation.
List of chairmen
- S. Truett Cathy (1946–2013)
- Dan Cathy (2013–present)
List of chief executives
- S. Truett Cathy (1946–2013)
- Dan Cathy (2013–2021)
- Andrew T. Cathy (2021–present)
List of presidents
- Jimmy Collins (1968–2001)
- Tim Tassopoulos (2016–2023)
- Susannah Frost (2024–present)
Menu
In 2018, the highest-selling items included waffle fries, soft beverages, chicken nuggets, and the original chicken sandwich. Comprehensive menu options and nutritional details are available on Chick-fil-A’s official website.